THE SCHOOL RESIDENCE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 31, 28 May 1914, Page 3

THE SCHOOL RESIDENCE.

ITS DEPLORABLE CONDITION, REPORT BY MR MASTERS. At the meeting of the Education Board yesterday, the condition of the headmaster’s residence at Stratford w as discussed. The Secretary for Education wrote that as far as the Department was aware, the Board had taken no action upon the suggestion that part of the ground now occupied by the headmaster should be resumed for school use. He did not know if the Board intended the committee’s letter which it forwarded in August last to be taken as an adequate reply to the suggestion, but in a case of this kind it was obviously desirable that the Board itself should have dealt with the Department’s proposal. In the absence of any indication that the Board had considered the matter, the Minister postponed decision on the application until a report from a departmental officer could be obtained. There had not yet been an opportunity to get such a report. It did not appear that the committee’s objection to sections 161 and IGS ought to ho accepted as disposing of the Department’s suggestion. The ground could probably be filled up and levelled. Further, jt did not scorn that the possibility of»nsing section 127 had been considered. The whole area at the Board’s disposal appeared to be about 3J- acres.

Tiie chairman stated that directly on receipt of the letter he had forwarded a copy to Stratford to MiMasters, and asked for a complete report, which read as follows: First is the question of filling in sections 164 and 165. Stratford is peculiarly situated in the matter of having spare earth for filling in sections. It is exceptionally letel, and it is-almost impossible to get earth except from a great distance, and the cost is naturally very heavy. The Stratford borough engineer, after going over the sections, estimated that it would take at least 3000 yards; at 4d per yard royalty and Is 9d per yard cartage, so that on the low estimate it would cost £325. The house is about 30 years old and is very much knocked about on account of the number of shifts the building has had. It has, 1 understand, been removed four times. The timber is worm-eaten, and in many places rotten. The rafters and purlins of the roof are not' sound, and nails will not now bold in the timber. The valleys and iron are all rusty and eaten through. The building as it now stands is a ramshackle affair. Each time it has been removed a small addition has been put on to what was originally a four-roomed cottage. The floors are on different levels, and altogether the place is not fit for a residence at all, let -alone for a residence for the master.' of a school the size of Stratford. .Altogther it is in a most deplorable condition. The Department says that the .possibility of using section 127 has not been considered, but I would point ,out that this is not so, as this section is now, and always will ,be, required for a horse-paddock, and this is indispensable to a school, has so uyany, children travelling { from a distance, The Education Department seems to me to have the opinion that if the section is filled in sufficient playground would be provided, but I would point out that even if this were done (and I submit that it would not meet the case) a very large amount would still have to be spent in repairs to the residence.

Mr Masters’ report was adopted, and a copy of it will be sent to the Education Department. .